3rd Sunday of Luke On the day of the Lord Sunday, October 19th. , of the year in grace in the Lord 2014 we celebrate Joel the Prophet St. Varys the Martyr St. John of Rilas St.Felix the Hieromartyr & Eusebius the Deacon St. John the Wonderworker of Kronstadt Epistle Reading St. Pauls Second Letter to the Corinthians 11:31-33; 12:1-9 Prokeimenon. Mode 2. Psalm 117.14,18 The Lord is my strength and my song. Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely. BRETHREN, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands. I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Alleluia ,Alleluia, Alleluia Gospel Reading The Reading is from Apostle and Evangelist St.Luke 7:11-16 At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep. And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, Young man, I say to you, arise. And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has arisen among us! and God has visited his people! Glory to You o Lord Glory to You Eighth Orthros Gospel Matins Gospel Reading The Reading is from Apostle and Evangelist John 20:11-18 At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him. Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek? Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned and said to him in Hebrew, Rabboni! (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and she told them that He had said these things to her. Joel the Prophet The Prophet Joel, whose name means Yah is God, was of the tribe of Reuben, the son of Bathuel, and lived from 810 to 750 B.C. (but some say in the 7th century B.C.). His book is divided into three chapters, and is the second in order of the minor Prophets. He foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Joel 2:28, and quoted by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:17), and the saving power of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Joel 2:32). Apolytikion in the Second Tone As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophet Joel, O Lord, through him we beseech Thee to save our souls. Kontakion in the First Tone Since thou hadst seen the glory of God in the spirit, thou truly didst foreknow His divine dispensation; for as thou didst say, Gods Spirit is poured forth upon all flesh that believeth in Him Who appeared to the earthborn in a servants form and made thee wondrous for ever, O Joel, thou seer of God. St. Varys the Martyr Saint Varys contested for the sake of Christ during the reign of Maximian, in the year 304. He was a soldier in the service of the Emperor Maximian, and held in honour for his courage. While in Egypt, he visited the Christians held in prison and comforted them. Among them, he visited seven monks imprisoned together; when one of them died from his torments, Saint Varys took his place. When this became known to the governor, Saint Varys was arrested and tortured to death. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful. Kontakion in the Third Tone Since thou hadst put on thyself thy Masters Cross as a breastplate, thou didst blunt and bring to nought the tyrants wicked devices. Thou didst bear most savage tortures upon thy body; valiantly didst thou then finish thy godly contest. Hence from God, O noble Varys, thou wast adorned in a crown august and divine. Translation of the relics of Venerable St John the Abbot of Rila in Bulgaria Saint John of Rilas founded the renowned monastery of that name in Bulgaria in the tenth century. Over the centuries, great and wondrous healings have flowed from his holy relics. Apolytikion in the First Tone Thy life was a foundation of repentance, a model of compunction, an image of consolation and spiritual perfection equal to the Angels, O Saint; for thou didst persevere in prayer, fasting, and tears. O Father John, intercede with Christ our God for our souls. Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone Emulating the life of the Angels, O Saint, and leaving behind all earthly things, thou didst run unto Christ. And protecting thyself with His commandments, thou wast shown to be a pillar that no attacks of the enemy could shake. Wherefore, we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Father John, most brilliant light. Felix the Hieromartyr & Eusebius the Deakon St. John the Wonderworker of Kronstadt Saint John of Kronstadt was a married priest, who lived with his wife in virginity. Through his untiring labours in his priestly duties and love for the poor and sinners, he was granted by our Lord great gifts of clairvoyance and miracle-working, to such a degree that in the last years of his life miracles of healing--both of body and soul--were performed countless times each day through his prayers, often for people who had only written to him asking his help. During his lifetime he was known throughout Russia, as well as in the Western world. He has left us his diary My Life in Christ as a spiritual treasure for Christians of every age; simple in language, it expounds the deepest mysteries of our Faith with that wisdom which is given only to a heart purified by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Foreseeing as a true prophet the Revolution of 1917, he unsparingly rebuked the growing apostasy among the people; he foretold that the very name of Russia would be changed. As the darkness of unbelief grew thicker, he shone forth as a beacon of unquenchable piety, comforting the faithful through the many miracles that he worked and the fatherly love and simplicity with which he received all. Saint John reposed in peace in 1908. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone O Wonderworker living in Christ for ever, with love have mercy on them that are in danger; hear thy children who call upon thee with faith; be thou compassionate unto them that hope for aid from thee, O Father John of Kronstadt, our beloved shepherd. Kontakion in the Fourth Tone Thou who from infancy wast chosen by God, and in childhood didst miraculously receive from Him the gift of learning, and wast gloriously called to the priesthood in a vision during sleep: Thou didst prove to be a wondrous shepherd of the Church of Christ, O Father John, namesake of grace. Pray to Christ our God that we all be with thee in the Kingdom of the Heavens. 3rd Sunday of Luke Tone of the week: Tone Two Eighth Eothinon Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Tone When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee. Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 06:33:10 +0000